Ultrasonically Treated Polypropylene/Ground Tire Rubber Blends

Abstract

Abstract Compounding ground tire rubber (GRT) with commercial polyolefins such as polypropylene (PP) is a possible way of recycling GRT. These new blends can provide low cost materials. The present study describes new materials which are obtained by the ultrasonically treated PP/GRT blends. In order to improve the efficiency of the treatment process, a new ultrasonic reactor was built. In this reactor, two horns were placed in a slit die which is attached to a plastic extruder. PP/GRT blends mixed by using a twin screw extruder were passed through the reactor to devulcanize GRT. Then the blends were dynamically revulcanized using an internal mixer. Mechanical properties, rheology and morphology of the obtained blends were studied. Under optimal conditions of ultrasonic treatment, the mechanical properties of the blends were improved in comparison with our earlier experiments.